Comparison · Honolulu vs Kauaʻi · United States
Honolulu vs Kauaʻi
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and nightlife; choose Kauaʻi for Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 193 km (120 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 193 km (120 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Honolulu
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Kauaʻi
- April–June and September–October
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Side by side
| Honolulu | Kauaʻi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor | Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$300–500 | US$280–480 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 32°C (90°F) | August, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 27°C (81°F) | January, 26°C (79°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | Waikīkī Beach | Poʻipū Beach Park |
| Airports | HNL | LIH |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Honolulu in March and November, and Kauaʻi in February and June–August. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Honolulu | Kauaʻi | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days | 26°C (79°F), 14 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days | 26°C (79°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Kauaʻi |
| March | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 26°C (79°F), 15 rainy days | Honolulu |
| April | 28°C (82°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 14 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 30°C (86°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · best time | Kauaʻi |
| July | 31°C (88°F), 6 rainy days | 29°C (84°F), 15 rainy days · shoulder season | Kauaʻi |
| August | 32°C (90°F), 5 rainy days | 30°C (86°F), 14 rainy days · shoulder season | Kauaʻi |
| September | 31°C (88°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 13 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 30°C (86°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 15 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 28°C (82°F), 16 rainy days | Honolulu |
| December | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 16 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Honolulu for…
Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and nightlife. Honolulu, on the south shore of Oʻahu, combines a real Pacific city with Waikīkī's beach resort strip. Most visitors stay in Waikīkī, where the sea is gentle enough for first surf lessons and Diamond Head rises at the eastern end, and take day trips to Pearl…
Choose Kauaʻi for…
Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon. Kauaʻi is the oldest and greenest of the main Hawaiian islands, nicknamed the Garden Isle. Its interior rises to Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest places on Earth, whose rain has carved the Waimea Canyon and the fluted sea cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast…
Top sights compared
| # | Honolulu | Kauaʻi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikīkī Beach | Nā Pali Coast |
| 2 | Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) | Waimea Canyon State Park |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial | Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout |
| 4 | Battleship Missouri Memorial | Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach |
| 5 | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve | Hanalei Bay |
Food compared
| Honolulu | Kauaʻi |
|---|---|
| Poke | Poke |
| Plate lunch | Saimin |
| Loco moco | Plate lunch |
| Spam musubi | Poi and taro |
Which is cheaper?
Honolulu and Kauaʻi cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$300–500 in Honolulu and US$280–480 in Kauaʻi (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kauaʻi on a budget.
Honolulu or Kauaʻi from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Honolulu | Kauaʻi | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 4,970 mi (8,000 km) | 5,020 mi (8,090 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,550 mi (4,100 km) | 2,620 mi (4,210 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
Honolulu and Kauaʻi are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Honolulu and Kauaʻi are about 193 km (120 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 6 days in Honolulu and 7 in Kauaʻi.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Honolulu or Kauaʻi cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$300–500 in Honolulu and US$280–480 in Kauaʻi (estimates).
+Is Honolulu or Kauaʻi better for a first trip?
Pick Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and nightlife, or Kauaʻi for Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon.
+How far is Honolulu from Kauaʻi?
About 193 km (120 mi) in a straight line.